Ambassador Indra Mani Pandey assumes charge of BIMSTEC SG
Ambassador Indra Mani Pandey, a senior diplomat of India, on Thursday assumed the position of Secretary General (SG) of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC).
He is the 4th SG of BIMSTEC and will remain its SG for a period of three years. He has succeeded Tenzin Lekphell of Bhutan, says a press release of BIMSTEC secretariat in Dhaka.
On his arrival in Dhaka on Thursaday, SG, ambassador Pandey, was warmly received by Abdul Motaleb Sarker, Director General (SAARC & BIMSTEC), Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh and Directors of BIMSTEC Secretariat.
While speaking to Directors and other members of BIMSTEC Secretariat, the new SG reiterated the commitment of the Secretariat, under his stewardship, to work earnestly and with a new vigour to translate into reality the grand vision of BIMSTEC member States for expanding and deepening the growing cooperation amongst the BIMSTEC member States, within the framework of seven pillars of collaboration agreed by BIMSTEC Leaders.
He thanked the member States of BIMSTEC for entrusting him with the responsibility of SG and sought their continued support and guidance to the Secretariat, enabling it to meet their expectations. He also thanked his predecessors for their distinguished contribution as SGs.
The new SG reiterated the commitment of the Secretariat, under his stewardship, to work earnestly and with a new vigour to translate into reality the grand vision of BIMSTEC member States for expanding and deepening the growing cooperation amongst the BIMSTEC member States, within the framework of seven pillars of collaboration agreed by BIMSTEC Leaders.
A career diplomat, ambassador Pandey joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1990. Prior to taking over as SG, Pandey served as the Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations and other International Organizations in Geneva.
Earlier he served as additional aecretary in the ministry of external affairs of India in-charge of the Disarmament & International Security Affairs Division; Ambassador of India to the Sultanate of Oman; Deputy Ambassador of India to France; Consul General of India at Guangzhou in China; and in various capacities at Indian missions abroad and at the external affairs ministry of India in New Delhi.
Ambassador Pandey is joined in Dhaka by his wife, Mrs Sushma Pandey. They are blessed with a daughter.